Apparatus for making molds for rings, &amp;c.



No. s6'3,o|a Patented nec. 4, |900.'

w. H, man. Y

APPARATUS F03 MAKING MULDS FR RINGS, &c.

(Applcatiun med Har. 10, 1900.;

(1Mo Medel.)v

Ntra Starts l l Finca,

ArtNr APPARATUS FOR MAKING lVIOLDS FOR RINGS, 82,6.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,018, dated December 4, 190D.

' Application led March 10, 1900. serial No. 8,121. K No model.)

T0 all whom/g t mfc/y con/cern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM H. FORD, of Loweli, county of Middlesex, State of Massa# chusetts, have invented ,an Improvement in Apparatus for Making lVIolds for Rings and Analogous Articles, of which the following description, in connection with the accom panying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts,

Prior to this invent-ion attempts have been made to cast gold and other metallic rings in molds composed of moldable material stamped or worked to present a recess of a shape corresponding with the article to be cast; but said attempts have resulted in failure, for the reason that a ring free from blowholes c'ould not be produced in such a mold, and, further, the surface of the cast ring has been so irregular and imperfect that it required in finishing the ring considerable of the metal had to be removed, the change of condition of the metal of the ring by theremoval of its rougliened surface so changing the size of the ring and so altering the weight of the metal poured into the mold thata ring of a dened size and of a desired pennyweight could not be practically made. So, also, solid plain gold rings have been made by a draw` shape being acted upon by a succession of dies to bring the blank into a'shape in crosssection required for the production of the ring desired, such reduction of the blank requiring several operations and each operation requiring a special machine having its own attendant.

Appreciating the desirability and great importance of being able to quickly form a solid ring from gold or other metal by casting, so that a jeweler or other manufacturer may readily measure a linger and make for it a ring of the proper size and of the desired shape and style, I have devised an apparatus, to be hereinafter more fully described, by which may be quickly fashioned a mold in friable material-such, for instance, as charcoal, soapstone, or pumice-stone--I preferably using charcoal, because the surface of the mold readily assumes a heat corresponding with tbe heat of the metal, thereby preventing the gold from cooling too freely in 1ng or swaging Operation, a blank ofY suitable the mold-space. Prolonging the cooling op# eration enables the air in the mold to escape therefrom through the metal before the latter sets sufficiently to form an obstacle to resist the passage of the air, the air of the mold escaping through' the molten metal, the metal readily flowing to close any passage made through it by the air, thus obviating blowholes in the casting. v

While I prefer charcoal for the mold, it will be understood that the apparatus to be herein described and claimed, broadly, may be used to cut a mold-cavity in any material. So this invention is not intended to be limited in its use to the cutting of va mold in any friable material.

In casting a ring from gold, silver, or other precious metal I iirstout or face one side of a piece of charcoal to present a smooth horizontal face, and thereafter by a suitable tool or device I drill a centering-hole in the charcoal or other material, said centering-hole being exactly at right angles to the plane face of the material. The mold material having been prepared, I put the mold material in operative relation to a revoluble tool-carrier, to be described, it carrying a suitable tool to cut a mold-groove about the centering-hole and `having a central Opening, and holding the mold material properly centered with relation to the tool-carrier I rotate the said cutter or the mold material, or both, to enable the tool to cut a circular cavity in the mold material concentric with the centering-hole therein.

The mold material is shown as centered on a centering-pin occupying a position in alinement with the longitudinal center of rotation of the tool-carrier, and the mold material guided by said pin isacted upon by the tool of the toolcarrier, said mold material gradually approaching a stop or arresting device, shown as carried by the tool-carrier, the mold material meeting said stop when the moldgroove vhas been out to the predetermined depth.

The mold-cutter has a suitable cutting-tool or blade which may be adjusted toward and from the center of rotation of the n1old-cut ter to thereby provide for cutting a circular groove in the material of any desired dialne- IOO material that it may correspond exactly with" and fit the finger to which the ring is to be applied, I employ what I herein designate as size-disks. Having determined the size or diameter of the ring to be made, I place ar size-disk upon the centering-pin, it occupying a position centrally with relation to the moldcutter, and I then adjust the cutter toward and until it meets the periphery of said disk, and Ithen confine the cutter in such position,

and thereafter I remove the size-disk,- adjust the tool longitudinally, so that it may act to cut a groove equal to one-half the width of the, ring and clasp the tool in position. I use two similar pieces of material in the production of each mold, each piece containing onehalf of the mold-cavity, each cavity registering with the other when the centering-holes made in the material coincide, and each half of the material having a'suit-able runway cut from each annular groove or mold-cavity to the edge of the material.

The tool or blade selected for use will be shaped upon that side most distant from the centering-pin to correspond with the exterior contour which it is desired shall be given to the ring to be cast, the inner edge of said tool or its edge next the said centering-pin.

having the shape which it is desired to give to the interior of the ring.

From the foregoing it will be understood that a person knowing the size and style or shape in cross-section desired for a ring to be cast and having a suitable tool to apply to the mold-cutter may readily and quickly adjust the tool, putting it into a position, and cut a mold of the desired size and shape.

Figure lin side elevation represents one form of mold-cutter for the formation of a mold-cavity in material in accordance with my invention, it showing a size-disk inl position. Fig. 2 is a left-hand end elevation of the mold-cutter represented in Fig. l, asizedisk being shown by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a section in the line x2, Fig. 2, the material for one-half of the mold being inplace, the mold-cavity being shown as finished in the `dotted-line position of the material. Fig. 3a

`shows the tool e removed from the tool-holder.V

Fig. 4 shows the tool-holder removed, it containing the tool. Fig. 5 represents in face view the material having formed in it onehalf of the mold-cavity. Fig. 6 shows in section twosuch mold-halves brought together with the centering-holes in alinement for the reception of a suitable centering-pin. Fig. 7 represents a diiferent form of lfool or blade from that shown in Figs. l and 3.v Fig. 8 shows a ring such as will be cast in the moldcavity cut by the tool represented in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 represents a ring such as may be cast in a mold-cavity cut by a tool such as represented in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 represents a section of the tool-holder in the dotted line x2. Fig. l1 represents one side of a piece of mold material faced to represent a plane surface and provided with a centering-hole.

Referring to the drawings, b represents a piece of mold material-for instance, charcoalit being cut to present a smooth or plane face bx, which is provided with a centering-hole b', located exactly at right angles or perpendicularly to the face bx.

The mold-cutter C is herein represented as composed of a tool-carrier c, bored preferably centrally at c. -The tool-carrier may have at one end a projection c2, represented as tlireaded,for the attachment thereto of a stem or end piece c3, also bored centrally at 0X and provided, preferably, at its outer end with a bushing c4, of wood or of fiber, said bushing having a tapered hole to be fitted, when the mold-cutteris to be rotated by power, on the end of a spindle (not shown) of a polishinglathe. If'V desired, however, the operator may hold the tool-carrier in one hand and rotate the tool-carrier by hand. The toolcar rier is provided with a hole c1. parallel with the hole c, located at the center of rotation of the tool-carrier, said hole ct at one end of the carrier having an enlargement or cavity a. The hole at receives the shank ft2 of the tool-holder a3, having a working outer face a4 to arrest the material b when the moldgroove bf2 has been cut to the required depth. The tool-holder cts has two passages d d. The passage d is represented as extended through the tool-holder parallel to the shank ft2, said passage in the Working position of the tool-holder being parallel to the longitudinal axis of rotation of thetool-carrier. The passage CZ is shown as extended but part way through thetool-holder. The tool-holder shown has two notches or seats 2 3, each of which is provided with a tapped hole to receive, respectively, two clam p-screws 4 5, the screw 5 being shown only in Fig. 2.

rIhe tool (shown detached in Fig. 3a) consists of a shank e, having a blade e', shaped to cut a groove b2, presenting the outer side of its wall concaved and the inner side of its `wall parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the tool-carrier, a groove of such shape enabling a ring to be cast having the contour represented in Fig. 8.

With a tool havi-nga blade shaped as represented at e2, Fig. 7, 4a groove would be cnt having parallel sides which would enable a ring to bevcast of the shape shown in Fig. 9.

The clamp-screw 4 acts against the shank and'holds the tool e in its adjusted position, as will be described. The'clamp-screw 5 when used will act against the shank of and hold a tool (not shown, but which will be put in the passage d) when the mold-cutter herein shown is to be used to cut in mold mate- ICO rial a groove varying in depth or to cut a mold-groove as provided for in my application Serial No. 728,566, tiled August 26, 1899.

To maintain the tool c in position temporarily when preparing for cutting a moldgroove, I have provided the shank a2 of the tool-holder with a spiral spring 6, the free ends of which press upon the shank of said tool and,acting frictionally,inaintain it in position in which it may be slid. A centering-pin h enters loosely the central hole in the tool-carrier, said pin being herein represented as entering the shank c3 and having its end projected beyond the face of the tool-holder, the pin occupying this position when the toolcarrier is to be held in the hand of the operator and rotated by hand; butin case the operator should prefer or in case the tool-carrier is to be rotated by power, in which case the said shank is to be pushed upon the end of the tapered spindle of a polishing-lathe, then the centering-pin may be made to enter the central opening of the tool-carrier from the opposite direction, leaving the bushing c4 unobstructed.

The shank a2 of the tool-holder may be held in its adjusted position in the tool-carrier by a clamping-screw ax.

To make a ring of a given size, I first get the measure of the finger, using, preferably, size-rings in usual manner, and having ascertained the size of the linger I select and apply to the centering-pin h (see Fig. l) asizedisk c, herein shown as double-ended, it being numbered at one end to correspond with the size-ring, said disk being shown in full lines iu Fig. l and by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Having selected a sample ring of a shape in cross-section of the ring to be made, I select a tool having a blade of the proper shape to cut a groove ot' the shape necessary to cast a ring of the style represented by the sample ring, and I insert the shank of the tool in the passage dof the tool-holder loosely, and then to determine the width ot' the ring inaccordance with the sample ring I lay on the face 01,4 of the tool-holder one side of said sample ring and adjust the tool longitudinally in said passage d until the point of the blade of the tool comes exactly opposite the center of the width of said ring sample, and I then fasten the tool in place by a clamp-screw 4L. Having confined the ltool in proper position in the tool-holder, the clamp-screw ax being at that time loose, I turn the tool-holder in the toolcarrier until the end of the blade contacts with that end of the size-disk next the toolholder, such adjustment of the tool-holder putting the tool in exactly the proper position to cut in the mold material a groove corresponding exactly in diameter to the ring it is desired to produce of a definite finger-size and pennyweight, and I then tu rn the clampscrew (LX and iix the tool-holder in its adj usted position.

By the foregoing adjustments I have determined both the diameter of the groove to be shown in Fig. 7 would make a flat band-ring,

as shown in Fig. 9, it presenting right-angled edges with straight parallel exterior and interior.

By my invention I may cut a mold-groove of any desired shape, I having only to change the shapelof the blade that itA may cut a moldgroove ot' any desired cross-section, so that by my invention I may make rings of any desired `shape in cross-section.

Having adjusted the tool to the requirements of the ring to be cast, both as to fingersize, shape in cross-section and pennyweight requirement, the size-disk gis removed from the centering-pin. I must now center the mold material with relation to the longitudinal center of the tool-carrier, and to do this I take the mold material and place the hole b' therein upon the centering-pin, thus alining said hole with the longitudinal center of the tool-carrier, so that as the blade of the tool acts in its orbital movement the groove cut will have as its center the hole b', previously made in the mold material, the cutting of the groove leaving a central core b4, defining the finger-size.

The mold material b (see full lines, Fig. 3) when applied to the centering-pin h, is supported thereby outside the face a4 of the toolholder, and by engaging the mold material by one hand I press the mold material gently against the blade, and while the mold-cutter or the mold material or both are rotated I cut in the mold material a groove concentric with relation to the centering-hole b', the mold material being gradually made to approach the stop-face a4 of the tool-holder, the meeting of the material and said face determining the depth ot` the groove and stopping any further cutting action of the tool.

It will be noticed that the tool is mounted eccentrically upon the tool-holder, so that by the adjustment of said tool-holder the tool may be made to occupy a position more or less near the longitudinal center ot' rotation of the tool-carrier, it being thus possible to instantly provide for any required diameter of ring.

Each part of the mold-groove b2 is provided with a suitable runway, as m, and the moldgrooves in the two mold-sections when face to face may be kept -in alinement by inserting a suitable pin in the holes b'.

A cast ring taken from the mold-space, consisting of two grooves b2 face to face, will be found to be malleable and to present smooth exterior andinterior,requiring but little fin-- ishing, thus making it practical to casta ring to finger-size and practically to any desired IOO IIO

pennyweight requirement, and it will be un derstood that the smoother the casting the less the material of the ring that need be removed for finishing, and consequently the quicker the production of a ring to exact tinger-size and pennyweight requirement, and, further, the cost of finishing a smooth ringcasting is much less and may be done with the expenditure of but little time.

The rings cast in the charcoal mold such as described will be found to be practically free from blow-holes and malleable. A mold of this character is made the subject of application Serial No. 6,150, led February 23, 1900.

In 8 and 9 the rings shown have connected with them runners n, such runners representing gold which overtlowed from the mold-space, and it will be noticed that these runners are of small diameter, leaving when broken oft' but a small portion of the surface of the ring to be dressed tothe level of the face of the ring.

This invention is not limited to the exact construction shown for the tool-holder, nor to the exact construction for the tool-carrier, nor to the exact construction represented for centering in. aline-ment the tool-carrier and -v the mold material.

I have herein spoken of my invention as applicable for making molds for casting rings; but it will be obvious that molds made by the apparatus herein described may be employed for casting any other articles than rings, and the mold-cavities may be of any shape and extend throughout more or less of a circle.

To lessen the number of size-disks necessary and to also economize in their cost of production, I have made a double-size disk, it presenting at its opposite ends different diameters, the diameter at one end representing 'a full-size, while the diameter at the opposite end represents a half-size, and in using this double-size disk I apply next the face a4 of the tool-holder that end of the size-disk containing the number defining the size of the ring to be made.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mold-cutter, a tool-carrier, a cuttingtool supported thereby, and a centering-pin in cooperative relation with the tool-carrier and adapted to constitute a pivot or support for the mold material to be cut.

2. In a mold-cutter, a tool-carrier, a cuttingtool supported thereby and adjustable with relation thereto, and a centering-pin in cooperative relation with the tool-carrier and adapted to constitute a pivot or support for the mold material to be cut.

3. In an .apparatus of the class specified, a tool-carrier, centering means in cooperative relation therewith and adapted to constitute a support for the mold material to be cut, a tool mounted for adjustment longitudinally of the axis of rotation ot' said tool-carrier, and

means to arrest theapproach ot' the mold material toward said tool-carrier to stop the cutting operation when a groove of a predetermined depth has been cut.

4. In an apparatus of the class specied,a

tool-carrier, a longitudinally-movable centering-pin guided by said tool-carrier and coristituting a pivotal support for the mold material, a tool-holder, a cutting-tool mounted thereon and serving to cut a groove in the face of said material, and means for stopping the feed of the mold material when a groove of a predetermined depth has been formed therein.

5. In an apparatus of the class specified, a tool-carrier, a centering-pin for the mold material movable'longitudinally of the axis of the tool-carrier and constituting the sole support for said mold material, a tool-holder having its shank supported by the tool-carrier, said shank being in parallelism with said centering-pin, a tool adjustable longitudinally in said tool-holder, a device for holding the tool in its adjusted position, and means for stopping the feed of the mold material when a groove of predetermined depth has been formed therein.

6. In an apparatus of the class specified, a tool-carrier, means to serve as a stop for the mold material when provided with av groove of the required depth, a centering-pin occupying a position in the longitudinal center of the tool-carrier and constituting the sole support for the mold material, a'cutting-tool sustained in said tool-carrier, means for adjusting said cutting-tool longitudinally and also toward and from said centeringpin, and means to hold said tool. in its adjusted position.

7. In a mold-cutter, a tool-carrier provided with a central opening, a tool-holder, a tool carried thereby and eccentric thereto, and means to adjust said holder to place said tool at any desired distance from the center of rotation of the tool-carrier.

8. In' a mold-cutter, a tool-carrier, a longitudinally-movable centering pin or device occupying a position in the longitudinal center of said tool-carrier, a size-disk applied to said centering pin or device and a tool or blade adjustable to meet the edge of said disk to deiiue the interior diameterof the groove to be cut. v

9. A size-disk having a central opening and presenting ends varying in diameter to thereby enable each disk to be used to indicate two diameters.

10. In a mold-cutter, a centering-pin, a cutter movable in a circle outside said centeringpin, and a double-ended size-disk.

l1. In a mold-cutter, a tool-carrier, a tool, means connected to the carrier acting to temporarily hold said tool preparatory to adj ustment, and a device to clamp said tool in adjusted position.

12. `In a mold-cutter, a rotatable cuttercarrier, and a tool-holder mounted therein IOO IIO

and adapted to receive a cutting-tool, said l to enter and be slid in said opening while the holder being rotatable in said Gutter-carrier tool is acting to eut the mold-groove in said about a center parallel With the center of romaterial. tation of said cutter-carrier to thereby enable In testimony whereof I have signed my I5 5 the tool in said holder to be put at any denaine to this specification in the presence of sired distance from the center of rotation of two subscribing Witnesses. said cutter-carrier. 'f 13. A tool-carrier having a longitudinal WHLIAM H FORD' opening, a tool carried by said tool-carrier Witnesses: 1o and adapted to eut a mold-groove, a center- GEO. W. GREGORY, ing-pin to carry mold material and adapted MABEL PARTELOW. 

